Chapter 4
Santini Air
Airwolf had been returned to the lair and safely tucked away from prying eyes.
Stringfellow Hawke gathered with Dom and Caitlin at the private airfield for a meeting with his crew.
Dom asked, "What do you think about the Colonel and his team?"
Caitlin stated, "He's a wise guy. His team is odd. Teal'c sticks out. Major Carter is brilliant and Dr. Jackson seems pretty smart too. The doctor, Janet Frasier seemed kept to herself but you can see the wheels turning. They are not telling us what they know. I can tell that by their body language. It's like when I was a cop and would be riding patrol. You can tell when someone is being dishonest. When they know more than what they are telling you."
Dom agreed, "I think they are holding back too. Wanna know what I think it is?"
Hawke asked amused, "What do you think they are hiding, Dom?"
"Aliens!" he stated outright. "I'm telling we made first contact a while ago and they are hiding it from us. Just like that supposed weather balloon crash outside Roswell. I bet these guys are from some secret space program they got going." He fully expected Hawke to say it was a ridiculous theory and come up with something more sound but he said nothing.
Caitlin pondered, "They were very interested in that UFO that I saw three years ago." She looked to Hawke. "What do you think?"
He pondered, "I think I might have spoken to one."
"Huh?" Dom asked.
"Their contact, Thor. He spoke perfect English but the words were just odd and where did that energy weapon and that shield generator come from? It was suddenly just there. Appeared out of nowhere." He shifted his weight, "Major Carter said Thor is looking for Sinjin as a thank you for helping them. She said he is looking for him now. She didn't say how but whatever we are dealing with it's more advanced than Airwolf. There's more! Her and Colonel O'Neill want me to join them. They offered me the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the US Air Force and command of something called SG-2. Major Carter said I would be doing things that make landing on the moon look like a walk in the park."
Dom asked surprised, "They offered you a commissioned rank and asked you to join them in some top secret program, String?"
He nodded, "Yes…They were serious about it too. It wasn't a joke."
He asked, "In exchange for finding Sinjin? Like the Firm."
He shook his head, "Major Carter said they will find him regardless. That I wasn't being forced to do it. They want to recruit me for something."
"What are you gonna tell them, String?" Dom asked.
"I don't know." he replied. "What if this is real? Not some PSYOP. Maybe there really are aliens from space. Statistically it's impossible for Earth to be the only planet with intelligent life. There should be millions of planets with life out there." He confessed, "If they find Sinjin, I'll be taking up on that offer. I'll owe them that."
"And if they don't?" Caitlin asked.
"I might still take them up." he admitted. "They actually needed to do upgrades on Airwolf to bring it up the level to take on this Ba'al character. That means whatever they got it is beyond what is currently state-of-the art. I think we have some kind of ship in orbit. When Carter tested the comms she mentioned Thor was on the O'Neill. I think that's a vessel of some kind." He thought back to her words, "She said his title was 'Supreme Leader' and getting a thank you from him was like getting the Medal of Honor from the President." He looked to his friends. "They are not telling us everything and yet they are putting it right in front of us. That's how you disclose without actually disclosing information. You put it out there and see who picks up on it."
Caitlin admitted, "I kind of expected you to tell me and Dom that were jumping to conclusions with the alien thing."
"Normally," he agreed, "I would. But…" he paused in thought. "Maybe they can find him. Maybe they have the technology to find him." He then gave self doubt, "Or maybe they are telling me what I want to hear. But they seem so damn sincere."
Dom stated, "I doubt Archangel will seem them as sincere. See the way that Colonel got under his skin. It was a trip to watch."
"I like the Colonel." Caitlin stated. "I bet he would be a blast to have fun with."
Hawke agreed, "He's certainly military."
Meanwhile
SG-1 and Janet returned to George home for the evening. Sam sat down on the sofa and found a familiar television show to watch as she needed to unwind. Jack walked into the living room and spied the opening credits for MacGyver. He gave a heavy sigh, "Not that show again." He plopped down on the sofa with a beer in hand.
Sam grinned, "Anyone ever tell you that actors looks…"
"Yes!" he huffed annoyed. "No more MacGyver jokes, Carter." He took a swig of beer. "What ya think of Hawke? Think he will take up the offer?"
"I hope so." she agreed. "He would be a huge benefit. He could bark at Rodney and keep Felger at bay too. He's smart and doesn't take crap from anyone."
Jack figured, "You want him in your department."
She admitted, "He's brilliant."
"I was thinking off world." he informed. "SG-2 got decimated. Put him in charge of that team. Let him choose his own men." He pondered, "Thor find his brother yet?"
She nodded, "He located him in a POW camp in Laos. He beamed him a bunch of other POW's out and have them onboard the ship. They all need medical care. Just trying to figure out a good way to beam them back down without disclosing Thor and the ship."
Jack suggested, "Just say Special Forces raided the compound and freed the men."
"Could do that." she agreed.
"Any sign of Ba'al or his ship?" Jack wondered.
She reported, "Thor has been scanning for energy signatures. We have not found the mother ship. It's possible it was lost in the wave. It could have been torn apart by the gravity. We are looking for energy signatures for Death Gliders and escape pods. Ba'al could be hiding a few of those ships here on Earth. Would be harder to detect once powered down. They could also be submerged. I think we need to do sniffer runs."
"All we got is Airwolf for sniffer runs." he stated.
She agreed, "W are limited. We meet the guy from Knight Industries tomorrow. Maybe we can modify the car to do sniffing on land and some coastal areas."
"Yeah, sniffing Ba'al out is gonna be a pain." he figured.
"Yup," she agreed settling in to watch her show.
Daniel walked into the room next with a ham sandwich to eat. He took a seat on the sofa. Jack found himself sitting between the pair. He looked over at him and his food.
Daniel asked, "What?" He squinted, "Is this that MacGyver show?"
Sam nodded, "Yes…now be quiet. I'm trying to watch it."
"Why?" he wondered. "Seems kind of silly."
"I like the actor." she mentioned.
"Why?" he asked again.
She confessed, "Because he's cute"
Jack sat between the pair annoyed. "Don't you two have someplace to go and do actual work?"
"Our offices don't exist yet, Jack." Daniel stated.
"For crying out loud." he miffed.
Next Day
SG-1 and Janet Frasier were flown to L.A. and brought to a warehouse that belonged to Knight Industries. Colonel Hammond personally escorted the team to meet the clandestine special operation that was dubbed Project Knight Rider by the Pentagon.
They embarked from a white bus the military provided. All except Hammond wore civilian clothing as George donned his blue dress uniform and visor cap.
Daniel remarked as they stood outside the warehouse in the morning sun. "Project Knight Rider. Who comes up with these code names?" he wondered aloud.
Jack shrugged, "I don't know."
Hammond gathered his special team before the door. "The man who runs this operation is Devon Miles. The man who fronts the Pentagon is named Wilton Knight. He's a rather wealthy business man. The man who drives the car is a former detective named Michael Author Long. He was shot in the face while undercover. He was given a new face and a new name and recruited for this project. His new name is Michael Knight. This is classified information that I am giving you. No one is supposed to know his real name. He's legally dead and left his old life behind."
Jack gave a nod, "Got it."
Daniel countered, "A bit cloak and dagger isn't it? Making a man take a new name and face and work on some top secret project."
Hammond continued, "Wilton Knight has a son named Garthe Knight. The two had a falling out. Garthe is a wanted man."
"And?" Jack wondered why that was mentioned.
Hammond informed, "The face that Michael was given resembles Garthe Knight."
Jack glanced at his team. He then suggested, "Kind of creepy."
Janet Frasier asked for clarity. "Wait! Do you mean to tell us that this wealthy business man, who fronts the Pentagon gave his estranged son's face to a cop who was shot in the line of duty, who was declared dead and given a new identity?"
George confirmed, "Yes."
She replied, "That tells me Wilton Knight has some serious issues with his son. It's like he tried to replace his son with the cop."
"I'm aware how it looks." Hammond agreed. "This way." He led them into the warehouse.
Upon entering they spied a black Trans Am with a red strobe light in the nose of the car. Standing next to the car were two men and a dark haired woman. An older man sported a tan suit and a younger man with dark hair wearing a leather jacket and tight jeans were talking. Next to the car was a computer station and the woman who wore a red jumpsuit was tending to the car.
"Military Devon!" the younger man huffed annoyed. He then glanced up as Colonel Hammond led the team inside. He rolled his eyes not enthused.
Devon Miles looked over his shoulder and spied Colonel Hammond. He greeted, "Ah, Colonel Hammond." He offered a hand, "I am pleased to meet you in person finally."
"As am I," George replied smoothly shaking his hand. "I would like you to meet my team: Colonel Jack O'Neill, Major Samantha Carter, Major Janet Frasier, she a medical doctor, Dr. Daniel Jackson and Teal'c." He motioned towards the men and women standing nearby.
Devon was gracious, "It's a pleasure to meet you all. I am Devon Miles. This is my associate, Michael Knight and over there is our computer technician Bonnie Barstow." He motioned towards the car, "And this is the Knight Industry Two Thousand or KITT for short."
Jack asked, "What's it do?"
A voice came from the car, "I assure you Colonel that I am the most state-of-the art machine on the planet. I can reach zero to sixty in two seconds. I have a fire resistant shell and a molecular bonded shell that protect against most firearms. I am self aware. I can learn. I am able to think independently."
Sam nearly jumped out of her sneakers. "It's an artificial intelligence."
Michael Knight stated, "He."
"Excuse me?" she asked him.
"He is an artificial intelligence." he informed. "Not it."
Sam grinned, "Even gender identified." She eagerly wanted to see the inside of the cabin. "Can I…" she motioned excited.
Michael stated, "By all means."
She sank down behind the wheel and began to communicate with KITT. "My name is Major Samantha Carter and I am really excited to meet you, KITT. Would you mind if I looked at your programming a bit more?"
KITT replied, "You may."
She found a keyboard that was attacked by a cord to the car. She placed it on her lap and entered a few basic command. She grew as excited as a little girl finding a gift under a tree.
Jack looked upon her, "Carter."
She looked up from her seat, "Sir."
"Kind of excited." he told her.
She blushed, "I suppose I am sir. KITT is a home grown A.I. Do you know what kind of leap this is? He needs some upgrades but this is huge."
Bonnie stood at her station and cocked an eyebrow, "Upgrades! KITT just got upgraded, Major. He's state-of-the art."
Sam explained, "There are a few upgrades I would like to install."
Michael stated, "No! The military has no right to mess around with KITT. You guys cannot just come in here and tinker around." He looked to Devon for support.
Devon admitted, "They can."
Michael scoffed, "What? Is Wilton okay with this? The foundation…"
Devon explained, "Michael, the Pentagon helped develop KITT and KARR. After the failure with KARR they stepped in and placed in a protocol to ensure that never happens again. The Pentagon has final say in KITT. I'm sorry. They left us alone until now."
He rolled his head back annoyed. "You have got to be kidding me."
Devon assured, "I'm afraid not." He looked to Hammond, "Just what assistance does the Air Force require, Colonel?"
He replied, "We will require KITT to be upgraded by Major Carter and he will be patrolling the West Coast for signs of a hostile."
Jack smirked, "We need a sniffer."
Michael asked, "What hostile are we looking for?"
Daniel stated, "His name is Ba'al and he thinks he's god."
"You need me to help find some cult leader or something?" he asked not amused.
"Let's hope he hasn't started a cult." Daniel told him.